13. Onesti
"Wait, what?" I ask, snickering while juggling the contents in my hands. I am grateful for the earpiece resting in my ear, which allows me to continue talking to Necia.
"I told that loose pussy bitch to sit and spin on a cactus. Fuck her and Roy," Necia repeats with a bite in her delivery.
Uncontrollable laughter escapes my mouth, bouncing around the lobby I just entered, causing the people milling around to look in my direction.
"Girl, you got these folks looking at me crazy. That woman ain't done nothing to you," I say, trying to contain my humor.
"She did when she said yes to the ring and dress. She better be lucky I ain't tell her that Roy likes getting head from Montana," Necia continues.
Another round of laughter hits me because Montana was born with the given name Montell. Necia and I ran into Montana shortly after Roy left me for his wife, where Montana told us about an incident between him and Roy back in college. Montana was extremely explicit in her recanting of the encounter between her and Roy before she transitioned. The whole story somehow made me feel better in the moment.
"I see you're back again," the security guard manning the front desk says, smiling.
"Where are you?" Necia asks.
"Baxtown Technologies. I'm fulfilling my duties after losing a bet. I still can't believe I let that man hustle me like that," I answer, shaking my head at the memory of the bowling match between Asaiah and me.
"What kind of bet and duties?" Necia asks.
It takes me about a minute or so to bring her up to speed on the lost bet I refused to walk out of after learning of Asaiah's experience with bowling. I thought for sure that Asaiah would allow his attraction for me to give me a fair shot or leverage for winning. The joke was on me because Asaiah beat me in two of our three games. The sad part is I thought I was set to win the third game because I was up by ten points. Another painful joke hit me square in the nose when Asaiah turned up the heat by bowling strikes with his remaining turns, instantly sinking my chance at walking away victoriously.
"Hold on, girl," I say to Necia when I finish with the story, turning my attention to the guard. "Can you let Mr. Harrison know I'm here, please?"
"I did. He's on his way," the guard informs me, smiling.
Nodding wordlessly, I turn toward the small waiting area to sit until Asaiah comes down to retrieve his lunch. With my schedule, it's impossible to know when I'll be able to go to lunch, so I'm here at two o'clock. Thankfully, Asaiah will be working late today and doesn't mind eating lunch at this time.
"Now, bestie, you might be out of your league with this man. He swindled you into being his personal Uber Eats worker with zero hesitation. What are you gonna do once you let him blow on the icicles forming on your oochie-coochie? I'm scared for you, girl," Necia whispers, causing me to giggle lightly at her dramatics.
Heavy footfalls have my gaze shifting to see Asaiah swaggering toward me, instantly halting my giggles, and my pussy weeps in response.
"Pray," I whisper before swallowing over the lump in my throat. "I'll ca-call you later." Not giving Necia time to respond, I tap the earpiece, disconnecting our call.
What I didn't tell Necia about my loss is that it really was a win because Asaiah added a stipulation after winning the bet. For two weeks, I would not only adhere to the conditions but also partake in the contents with him. The kicker is that Asaiah refused to let me pay for any of it, so in essence… I won.
I wonder if I'm able to refer to Asaiah as mine yet. Our first kiss could have been the initiation, and he told the bowling alley worker I was his lady, so…
* * *
"Why are you looking like that?" I ask Asaiah ten minutes after blessing our meal.
The tightness around the area above Asaiah's eyes and the lines stretching across his forehead have me wondering what's plaguing him.
"I didn't consider the aftermath of having you bring your beautiful ass at my place of employment."
"Why?" I ask with a sly smile.
This afternoon was only the second day of fulfilling my obligations because Asaiah and I met at Sipping Thangs Beverages before work to have coffee and a light breakfast together. This leaves me with only having to deal with Asaiah's lunch, which unfortunately varies for me given the day.
"You're causing quite the stir around my office, and while I can appreciate folks acknowledging your beauty, I should have worked to keep you to myself a little longer."
"Why would you need to do that when we're only?—"
"Oh, hm. Clearly I've done more than let the thirsty mofos at Baxtown Technologies see you. Let me correct my mistake right here and now."
My temple vein thumps wildly, and my heart rate increases while I stare at the look of determination shining within Asaiah's brown eyes. The frown on his lips and the tightness around his eyes alert me to our conversation shift.
"Breathe. I only want to ask if you'll be my?—"
Brrnng. Brrnng.
The loud ringing of a cell phone halts Asaiah's words, and we each pick up our devices to see which of us is receiving the incoming call.
"Sorry, I gotta take this," Asaiah says before answering the call and placing the device to his ear. "Hello. I'm in the mid—wait, what did you say?"
My face contorts, and worry lines fill my forehead when Asaiah's face flashes with varying degrees of expression.
"Shit! I'm on my way," Asaiah blurts, disconnecting the call. "I hate to end our night, but I have a family emergency and must go." Flagging down a server, he quickly asks for the check once the man arrives at our table.
Asaiah and I are having dinner at Longhorn because I had a craving for their lamb chops, and he wanted their parmesan-crusted spinach dip. It takes no time for Asaiah to settle our bill or for us to box our food, which allows us to walk out of the restaurant within ten minutes.
"Okay. Okay. Uh, I'll take you home, and then?—"
"You don't have to do that. The call sounded urgent. I can go with you so you can get to your destination faster," I interject, cutting Asaiah off.
My stomach clenches tight upon seeing the hesitancy and uncertainty in Asaiah's eyes.
Don't take it personally. Just be what Asaiah needs at this moment.
It currently feels impossible to steady my erratic pulse the longer Asaiah stares, allowing me to see fear, stark, vivid, and glittering in his eyes.
Jesus! What is it?
"Okay," Asaiah says in a low tone before rushing to open my door.
God, whatever it is, please go before us and make everything alright.
* * *
I feel like an extra in the Fast & Furious sagas when Asaiah speeds into the Ritown Projects and toward the rental office's direction according to the entrance sign. While I have never been to this housing complex, some kids I went to middle and high school with lived here. Ritown Projects is on the north side of town and has some seedy activities that the city hasn't addressed or corrected.
"Stay here," Asaiah aggressively voices after stopping in the middle of the street upon seeing a couple talking to a young woman.
My breathing becomes erratic, and I sit completely still as my gaze focuses on Asaiah.
"Why the fuck are y'all out here with this stupid shit?" Asaiah's question rattles the windows on the vehicle.
I gasp from the hard vernacular I would have never associated with Asaiah, which causes a shiver of panic to flow through my extremities.
The young woman quickly walks away, and my back slams against the seat when the man stabs a finger into Asaiah's chest.
"I don't give a fuck who you are. Your mothafucking ass ain't the boss of me, little nigga." The man's voice echoes through the vehicle.
"Oh God!" I whisper despite being alone in the vehicle.
My heart is racing, and my gaze is unwavering as I continue watching the exchange, unsure of why the couple's actions toward Asaiah are so unsettling but I’m too invested to divert my gaze.
"Drugs ain't confused your memory that much, but I ain't going back and forth with you. Get your dysfunctional ass in the got damn car, my nigga!" Asaiah snaps with an urbane dialect while pointing toward the SUV.
My brows raise, my mouth drops open, and my lower region moistens while I stare at Asaiah, seeing him in a new light.
Well, damn. I didn't know Asaiah had a little hood in his swagger.
"Come on, honey. We can come back later. Come on," the woman pleads with the man.
"We're his got damn parents, Val. This nigga ain't the boss of either of us. We tell his bitch ass what the fuck to do," the man seethes, causing my brain to short-circuit when I comprehend the information he's said.
Hold up, these are Asaiah's parents. Oh my God!
"Irrelevant, just like your rebuttal. Now beat your feet before I do it for you, Dad," Asaiah sarcastically warns.
"Andre," the woman pleads, and the man looks in her direction.
"For you only, but we aren't done, so one way or another, we're gonna accomplish our mission," the man vows.
My leg bounces wildly when the couple and Asaiah head in my direction. The glower on Asaiah's face is identical to the one worn by the male, which incites pounding in my chest reminiscent of an African drum. When Asaiah and the couple enter the vehicle, my breathing feels cut off, causing my chest to tighten and burn. I'm like a mannequin, unsure if I should say something or simply keep quiet when the internal temperature becomes thick with tension. A second later, the vehicle is heading out of the projects.
"Hello," a feminine yet gritty voice says, and I turn to acknowledge who I know is Asaiah's mother.
"Hi," I say weakly.
The woman's lower eyelid is dark enough to resemble a black eye, and the hollowness within her eyes instantly pricks at my heart. The wig covering her head has seen better days based on its haggard appearance. Her lips are crusty and in desperate need of moisture beyond what any form of liquid could provide.
"Do you have eighty dollars, sweetie? Me and my man can work it off. You look like you could use some head or?—"
"Are you fucking kidding me right now?" Asaiah shouts in a booming timbre, which has me afraid to move.
"Hell nah, she ain't kidding. You stopped us from getting what we needed from that other woman. Shid, we need our fix," the man interjects before chuckling.
Did Asaiah's mother really proposition me? Jesus!
"Either y'all sit back there quiet as church mice, or I'm taking both of you to RPD," Asaiah threatens through gritted teeth.
"I really don't see?—"
"Don't say another fucking word, man. I swear to God." Asaiah's voice is a mix of aggression and something unidentifiable, which has me turning back to the front.
A chill black silence surrounds the interior, and I gaze toward Asaiah to assess him. The white knuckle grip Asaiah has on the steering wheel matches the clenching of his jaw and frown lines resting on his forehead. Asaiah's gaze is on the road, and my stomach churns with anxiety and frustration on his behalf. An hour ago, Asaiah had been jovial and happy while we enjoyed each other's company. Now, he appears to be on the brink of an explosion, and I feel bad for being unable to change his situation. My knowledge of Asaiah is so new that I had no idea he was dealing with this situation.
NA meeting… not for me.
The memory from the day Asaiah and I were stuck in the elevator discussing our reason for being in the building nearly freezes my blood.
Oh my gosh. Asaiah was going to the meeting for his parents. Sheesh. This man.
The urge to cry hits me suddenly, and I disconnect from Asaiah, turning to look out the window to keep from succumbing to the desire. The tight knot mentally holding my tears at bay begs for release, forcing me to breathe in shallow, quick gasps. Watching the lines on the road passing quickly has my eyes straining and burning, yet I refuse to let a single tear fall. Instead, I close my eyes and petition God on Asaiah's behalf instead of giving in to the emotions swirling within me.
Dear God,
Asaiah's cup is overflowing with obstacles he's unable to plow through on his own. You are a burden bearer, a heart fixer, and a lifter of downtrodden heads. Right now, give Asaiah what he needs to handle this situation. I ask that You would do what only You can do. While I don't know how to intercede on Asaiah's behalf, I know You know the situation. Please relieve and release Asaiah from this burden. Lighten his load, oh God.
Amen.